Estonian Basic-School Estonian as a Second Language Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Partitive object after negation

In a negative sentence the object takes the partitive: Ma ei lugenud seda raamatut. The total object (genitive or nominative) appears only in affirmative, completed, quantified actions.

Total vs partitive object

A total object marks a completed or counted action (Ostsin raamatu, kaks õuna). A partitive object marks ongoing, unfinished, negative or mass-quantity action (Loen raamatut).

Illative ending -sse

The illative marks 'into': majja, kooli, linna, but also raamatusse, tuppa. Short illative forms are irregular and must be learned with the noun.

Postpositions take genitive

Most Estonian postpositions govern the genitive case of the preceding noun: laua all, maja ees, minu järel, kooli kõrval. Prepositions are rare in Estonian.

-ma infinitive triggers

Verbs such as hakkama, õppima, minema, panema and expressions like on vaja combine with the -ma infinitive: Hakkasin töötama. Õpin lugema.

-da infinitive triggers

Verbs such as saama, tohtima, võima, oskama and impersonal expressions take the -da infinitive: Saab sõita. Oskan ujuda. Tohtin küsida.

Present tense endings

Estonian present tense adds -n, -d, -b, -me, -te, -vad to the stem: loen, loed, loeb, loeme, loete, loevad. There is no separate future tense.

Future expressed by present tense

Estonian has no future tense. Future meaning comes from the present tense plus a time word: Homme lähen kinno. Järgmisel nädalal algab kool.

Conditional -ks-

The conditional inserts -ks- before the personal ending: ma teeksin, sa tuleksid, ta loeks. Sooviksin and tahaksin are the polite request forms.

Word formation suffixes

-mine forms action nouns (lugemine), -ja forms agents (lugeja), -lik and -ne form adjectives (sõbralik, aastane), -ke/-kene is diminutive (poiss → poisike).

Numbers take partitive singular

After numbers two and above the noun is partitive singular: kaks raamatut, viis inimest, kolmkümmend aastat. The verb stays singular with a numeral subject.

Listening: two playings

The listening text is played twice. Read items before the first playing, mark keywords, and use the second playing to confirm or correct answers already chosen.

Correction distractors in audio

Speakers often state a figure and then correct it: 'mitte kolm, vaid pool neli'. The answer is the corrected value, signalled by vaid, tegelikult, hoopis.

Contrast markers in listening

Words such as aga, kuid, siiski, tegelikult, hoopis and välja arvatud introduce the decisive information in a listening item and usually carry the answer.

Negative listening questions

A question with EI (Mida ta EI teinud?) asks for the option contradicted or absent in the recording, not the one confirmed there.

Audio order matches items

Listening questions follow the order of the recording. Once a later item is answered, the information for earlier items has already passed.

Numbers and times in audio

Times, prices, dates and quantities are the commonest listening distractors. Note both the first figure and any correction before choosing.

Reading: answers are paraphrases

Reading items rarely repeat the text word for word. Locate the keyword, then choose the option that restates the same meaning in different words.

'Not stated' option

In true/false/not-stated items, 'not stated' means the passage gives no information either way; it is not the same as a false statement.

Heading matching strategy

Match headings to paragraphs using the topic sentence, normally the first or second sentence. The heading must cover the whole paragraph, not one detail.

Reference words in text

See, tema, need, selline and viimane point back to a noun in a previous sentence. Resolve the reference before answering an item about it.

Splitting Estonian compounds

Estonian compounds are written solid: koolimaja, raamatukogu, raudteejaam. Splitting a long word into known parts helps guess its meaning in reading tasks.

Gap-fill: grammar first

In gap-fill texts decide the required case ending or verb form from grammar, then check that the meaning fits the sentence context.

Inference needs textual evidence

An inference answer must be supported by a sentence in the passage. A statement that is true in real life but absent from the text is wrong.

Writing task: required points

The prompt lists content points. Omitting one costs more than a grammar slip, so tick each point off before polishing the language.

Formal letter formulas

Formal Estonian letters open with Lugupeetud + name and close with Lugupidamisega + name. The polite teie-form and full sentences are used throughout.

Informal message register

Informal texts use tere and head aega, the sina-form of verbs, shorter clauses and direct questions. Formal texts avoid these.

Cohesive connectors for writing

Use esiteks, teiseks, lisaks, seejärel, seetõttu, kuid, samas and kokkuvõtteks to link ideas and make the text's structure visible to the marker.

Word count compliance

Stay within the stated word range. A text far below the limit loses content points even when it is grammatically correct.

Speaking: three-part skeleton

Structure a monologue as sissejuhatus, two or three arenduspunktid and kokkuvõte. This covers the prompt and fills the time limit reliably.

Estonian word stress

Estonian stress falls on the first syllable. Vowel and consonant quantity (short, long, overlong) distinguishes meaning, so hold long sounds clearly.

Speaking fillers

Correct fillers buy thinking time: noh, vaatame, ütleme nii, mis puutub … siis. They count as fluent Estonian, unlike silence or English hesitation.